Pokémon Scarlet & Violet have been out for a few days, but some fans have already explored every corner of the Paldea region. The new games feature an open world full of possibilities, but they don't leave out one of the franchise's most famous and esteemed traditions: the Gym Challenge.
As always, players looking to become Paldea's new Champion must defeat the eight Gym Leaders and earn their badges. The challenge is considerable, testing the will and strength of each Trainer and their team. However, not every Gym Leader is the same, and while some are undeniably tough, others are a walk in the park.
8 Cortondo Gym: Bug-Type
It's no secret that Bug is the worst type in Pokémon. It has terrible average stats, with very few fully-evolved Bug-types making it past 450. Paldea's Bug-type Gym, located in Cortondo City, will surely be the first one players visit, and conquering it should be child's play.
Gym Leader Katy has three Pokémon: Nymble, Tarountula, and Teddiursa. All are pure Bug-types, meaning a strong Fire or Flying move will bring them down in no time. The routes between Mesagoza and Cortondo have several worthy Pokémon that will make this Gym much easier, including Fletchling, Starly and Staravia, Rookidee, and Charcadet. Suffice it to say no Trainer should have an issue prevailing in this battle.
7 Artazon Gym: Grasss-Type
Grass is one of the Pokémon types with the most gyms, and it's easy to understand why. Grass-types are weak to nearly every other type in the franchise; as such, they make for an easy challenge, especially at the beginning of the game. Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's Grass-type gym, located in Artazon City, is no exception.
Brassius, the Gym Leader, has three Pokémon: Petilill, a pure Grass-type, and Smoliv, a dual Grass/Normal-type. Finally, his Terastilized Pokémon is Sudowoodo, who becomes a pure Grass-type. Grass Pokémon are weak to a whopping five types: Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison, and Bug. The early game has no shortage of Bug and Fire-types, including Fletchling, who evolves into Fletchinder at level 17. None of Brassius' three Pokémon know more than two moves, so OHKOing them with a strong Fire move should be easy.
6 Cascarrafa Gym: Water-Type
Water is among the best types in the Pokémon franchise. It only has two weaknesses -- Grass and Electric -- and, as the most common type in the game, has an overwhelming variety of options for players. Paldea's Water-type Gym, led by Kofu in Cacarrafa City, can be tricky, but it shouldn't be a problem.
Kofu has three Pokémon: Veluza, Wugtrio, and Crabominable. Wugtrio's Gooey ability, which decreases a Pokémon's Speed by one stage upon , can be bothersome, but Kofu's battle is simple overall. Paldea's routes have several worthy Grass-types that will do well in this fight, from Smoliv and its evolutions to Toedscruel. If not them, the Pawmi and Tadbulb families will come in handy. However, Wugtrio knows Mud-Slap, so perhaps it's best to stick to Grass-types.
5 Medali Gym: Normal-Type
Many people underestimate the Normal-type, but they're making a great mistake. Normal isn't super effective against anything, but it has only one weakness and is immune to Ghost, making it an unexpected threat.
Larry is Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's Normal-type specialist. He has only three Pokémon, two of which as pure Normal-type. His Komala knows Yawn, which is annoying but far from worrying. As for Dudunsparce, the long-awaited evolution to Dusnaparce is as underwhelming as its predecessor. Larry's ace is a Staraptor, one of the all-time best Normal-type Pokémon and a Sinnoh superstar; its Tera Type is also Normal. A strong Fighting-type like Hariyama or Medicham -- Makuhita and Meditite are available absurdly early in the game -- will make this fight as easy as they come. Otherwise, a capable Pokémon with a Fighting-type move will suffice.
4 Glaseado Gym: Ice-Type
Ice Pokémon are frail and have too many exploitable weaknesses to be a genuine threat. Still, Ice Gyms are not uncommon, and Paldea has its own, located atop Glaseado Mountain.
Gym Leader Grusha will challenge the player with four Pokémon. Fire could be the way to go -- Frosmoth is four times weak to it; however, Beartic knows Aqua Jet, and Cetitan knows Liquidation. A good way around these two is to use a strong Fighting-type, possibly the one already used against Larry. Altaria, Grusha's ace with an Ice Tera type, will be slightly more difficult. However, it doesn't know any moves that will be super effective against Fire or Fighting-types, meaning Trainer can ace this battle with two strong and well-balanced Pokémon.
3 Levincia Gym: Electric-Type
Although there's no clear consensus about the best Pokémon type, Electric is a strong contender. Some of the all-time best Pokémon are Electric, and the type only has one weakness, Ground, making it ideal competitively. Gym Leader Iono presides over Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's Electric-type Gym from Levincia City, ing a select group of Trainers who put the type's name high.
Iono has four Pokémon: two pure Electric-types, Luxio and Bellibolt; the dual Electric/Flying-type Wattrel; and a Mismagius with an Electric Tera type. Luxio and Bellibolt should go down with a strong-enough Ground move, although Bellibolt knows Water Gun, which could complicate things. The real challenges are Wattrel and Mismagius, who are immune to Ground moves. Wattrel should fall to a Rock move -- most Ground-type Pokémon will know at least one, but Mismagius won't go down easy. Its Confuse Ray is also frustrating and can prolong the battle, so Trainers should have at least two strong Pokémon ready to deal with it. Grass-types resist Electric moves, making them a strong choice for this battle.
2 Montenevera Gym: Ghost-Type
The Ghost-type has some of the strongest Pokémon in the franchise. However, it's a tricky type to use; it's weak only to itself and Dark and super effective against itself and Psychic. As such, many Ghost-on-Ghost battles can be nail-biters.
Pladea's Ghost-type Gym Leader, Ryme, operates from Montenevera City. Her team includes two pure Ghost-types, Banette and Houndstone; a pure Ghost-type Tera Pokémon, Toxtricity; and a dual Ghost/Fairy-type, Mimikyu. Strategy is necessary to win this. Banette knows Sucker Punch, and Mimikyu knows Shadow Sneak, two Dark and Ghost-type moves that always go first. On top of that, Houndstone knows Play Rough, which is super effective against Dark-types. A Ghost-type will be useful, but not enough to win. Trainers should ideally have a balanced team where at least one other Pokémon knows a strong Ghost or Dark move. Crunch will work great, and many Pokémon have access to it. Still, players shouldn't expect OHKOs and should instead prepare for a somewhat long battle.
1 Alfornada Gym: Psychic-Type
For years, Psychic was among the strongest types in the franchise and remains a danger on the battlefield today. Gym Leader Tulip, whose base of operations is Alfornada City, is a worthy addition to the pantheon of great Psychic Trainers and, arguably, the strongest Leader in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.
Her team comprises four Pokémon, each a threat in its own way. Farigiraf is the easiest and should go down with a powerful Dark or Bug move, although its secondary Normal-typing makes it immune to Ghost. Espathra knows Shadow Ball, making it dangerous for Ghost-types. Florges and Gardevoir know Moonblast and Dazzling Gleam, meaning Dark-types will be in danger against them. The best choice for this battle is a Ghost-type that can tank Espathra's Shadow Ball. Any Pokémon with Crunch can deal with Farigiraf, but the Ghost-type will have the burden of going against Florges and Gardevoir, giving players a real challenge.
